by Veronica Slaght for The Star Ledger
http://www.nj.com/news/local/index.ssf/2010/08/flemington_businesses_create_p.html
When Nancy Issenman needed to find a packaging company near her Flemington business she was surprised to learn there was a nonprofit that did just that in neighboring Raritan Township.
The Center for Educational Advancement, however, is business with a twist — the organization employs 75 to 90 people with emotional, physical and developmental disabilities. Unlike other nonprofits, CEA keeps a close eye on its bottom line and doesn’t receive subsidies from the government. CEA employees are paid a competitive hourly wage to package products for business like Johanna Farms in Readington, Johnson & Johnson, Roche, Estee Lauder and Neutrogena.
“We are successfully helping people with disabilities earn a paycheck,” explained sales director Jim Cavanagh.
CEA’s client-workers range in age from 18 to 75 and have a variety of disabilities. Some live at home with their families, while others are in group homes or indepenent. CEA assesses their functionality and matches each person with an appropriate job. Over time, the employees acquire new skills and get different kinds of work.
“We can train people to achieve more than anybody ever thought they could do,” Cavanagh said. “They’re incredibly dedicated,” he added. “They want to work.”
Issenman toured CEA earlier this year and knew she had found her solution.
The horseback rider runs a Flemington-based business called Equatic Solutions. Founded in 2005, its sole product is called Horse Quencher. The problem it addresses? Horses don’t like to drink water when they’re stressed out, which often happens when they’re sick or traveling.
Issenman said adding this granola-like feed mixture to a bucket of water entices a horse to drink it. In other words, “You lead ‘em to water; We’ll make ‘em drink” — the company’s slogan.
“I’m just so happy,” she said Friday, watching workers put their first batch of Horse Quencher into plastic buckets. “I feel like we’re helping all these people.”
Longtime client-worker Laurie Golembiewski said she likes working for CEA because, “There’s always different things to do.” As an animal lover, Golembiewski especially enjoys working with this product, she said.
“This smells good,” she added with a smile.
Horse Quencher represents an approximately $50,000 contract for the CEA, which puts all its profits toward its Spring Run School, a high school for 14 to 22-year-olds with disabilities.
This year, Horse Quencher is sponsoring rider Mary Jordan, from Maine, in the World Equestrian Games. Held every four years, the 2010 games will be in Kentucky this fall. Jordan, who has multiple sclerosis, will be competing against other para-equestrians.
Before she leaves, she will be presented with a case of Horse Quencher and a card from the CEA workers.
“Horse Quencher is very proud of our connection to CEA and our sponsorship of Mary Jordan,” Issenman said. “It’s a perfect fit.”
